Desert Storm Veterans Tribute

A Tribute to our troops

Persian Gulf War

"Operation Desert Storm "

2 August 1990 – 28 February 1991

commonly referred to as simply the "Gulf War"

It was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from thirty-four nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of the State of Kuwait.

This war has also been referred to as Operation Desert Storm for the operational name of the military response , the First Gulf War, Gulf War I, or the Iraq War^, before the term became identified with the 2003 Iraq War which is also referred to as Iraqi Freedom.

First Strike Gulf War Air Campaign 1991

Desert Storm Ground War

On the morning of August 2, 1990 the mechanized infantry, armor, and tank units of the Iraqi Republican Guard invaded Kuwait and seized control of that country.  The invasion triggered a United States response, Operation DESERT SHIELD, to deter any invasion of Kuwait's oil rich neighbor, Saudi Arabia.  On August 7, deployment of U.S. forces began.  United Nations Security Council Resolutions 660 and 662 condemned Iraq's invasion and annexation and called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces.  On August 20 President Bush signed National Security Directive 45, "U.S. Policy in Response to the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait," outlining U.S. objectives - which included the "immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of all Iraqi forces from Kuwait," and the "restoration of Kuwait's legitimate government to replace the puppet regime installed by Iraq."

A U.N. ultimatum, Security Council Resolution 678, followed on November 29, 1990.  It stipulated that if Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein did not remove his troops from Kuwait by January 15, 1991 a U.S.-led coalition was authorized to drive them out.  Early in the morning of January 17, Baghdad time, the U.S.-led coalition launched air attacks against Iraqi targets.  On February 24, coalition ground forces begin their attack.  On February 27, Kuwait City was declared liberated, and with allied forces having driven well into Iraq, President Bush and his advisers decided to halt the war.  A cease-fire took effect at 8:00 the following morning.

The Fallen 294 (114 by enemy fire, 145 in accidents, 35 to friendly fire)

Never forget that this was not a bloodless war.. 

 Army: 98 battle; 105 nonbattle

Navy 6 battle;8 nonbattle

Marines: 24 battle; 26 nonbattle

Air Force: 20 battle; 6 nonbattle

Women killed, 15 

Chronology: Events

1990. Hussein accuses Kuwait on 17 July of oil overproduction and theft of oil from the Rumailia Oil Field.
1990. On 25 July US Ambassador to Iraq, April Glaspie, tells Hussien that the Iraq/Kuwaitt dispute is an Arab matter, not one that affects the United States.
1990. Hussein invades Kuwait on August 2. President Bush freezes Iraqi and Kuwatti assets. The United Nations calls on Hussien to withdraw.
Aug 6,1990. Economic sanctions are authorized.
Aug 7, 1990. Secretery of Defense Cheny visits Suadi Arabia. The 82nd Airborne and several fighter squadrons are dispatched.
Aug 8. 1990. Iraq annexes Kuwait
Aug 9, 1990. The UN declare's Iraq's annexation invailid
Aug 12, 1990. The USA announces intrediction program of Irai shipping.
Aug 22, 1990. President Bush authorizes call up of reserves.
Aug 25, 1990. Military interdiction authorized by the UN
Sep 14, 1990. Iraqi forces storm a number of diplomatic missions in Kuwait City.
Nov 8, 1990. Bush orders aditional deployments to give "offensive option" to US forces.
Nov 20, 1990. 45 Democrats file suit in Washington to have President Bush first seek Congressional approval of military operations. (eventually thrown out)
Nov 22, 1990. President Bush visits the troops for Thanksgiving.
Nov 29, 1990. UN Security Council authorizes force if Iraq doesnt withdraw from Kuwait by midnight EST Janu. 15.
Nov 30, 1990. Bush invites Tariq Aziz to Washington and offers to send Secretary of State James Baker to Baghdad.
Jan 9, 1991. Baker and Aziz meet in Geneva. The meeting is 6 hrs, but no results.
Jan 12, 1991. Congress votes to allow for US troops to be used in offensive operations.
Jan 15, 1991. The deadline set by the UN Resolution 678 for Iraq to withdraw.
Jan 16, 1991. First US government statement of Operation Desert-Storm made.
Marlin Fitzwater announces, "The liberation of Kuwait has begun..."
The air war started Jan 17 at 2:38 a.m. (local time) or January 16 at 6:38PM EST due to an 8 hour time difference, with an Apache helicopter attack.
US warplanes attack Baghdad, Kuwait and other military targets in Iraq.
Jan 17, 1991. Iraq launches first SCUD Missle attack.
Jan 30, 1991. US forces in the Gulf exceed 500,000.
Feb 6, 1991. Jordan King Hussein lashes out against American bombardments and supports Iraq.
Feb 13, 1991. US Bombers destroy a bunker complex in Baghdad with several hundred citizens inside. Nearly 300 die.
Feb 17, 1991. Tariq Aziz travels to Moscow to discuss possible negotiated end to the war.
Feb 22, 1991. President Bush issues an ultimatum of Feb 23 for Iraqi troops to withdraw from Kuwait.
Feb 23, 1991. Ground war begins with Marines, Army and Arab forces moving into Iraq and Kuwait.
Feb 25, 1991. Iraqi SCUD missle hits a US barracks in Saudi Arabia killing 27.
Feb 26, 1991. Kuwaiti resistence leaders declare they are in control of Kuwait City.
Feb 27, 1991. President Bush orders a cease fire effective at midnight Kuwaiti time.
Mar 3, 1991. Iraqi leaders formally accept cease fire terms
Mar 4, 1991. Ten Allied POWs freed
Mar 5, 1991. 35 POWs released
Mar 8, 1991. First US combat forces return home.

Facts:
Air Deployment Missions: 18,466 as of June 7, 1991

• 3,980 by C-5 Galaxy transports
• 9,085 by C-141 Starlifter transports
• 1,193 by C-130 Hercules transports
• 395 by KC-10 Extender aerial refuelers
• 3,813 by Civil Reserve Air Fleet carriers
• 509,129 passengers and 594,730 tons of cargo carried

U.S. Casualties: 147 battle deaths, 145 non-battle deaths, 1 missing in action 

• Army: 98 battle; 105 non-battle
• Navy 5 battle; 8 non-battle; 1 missing in action
• Marines: 24 battle; 26 non-battle
• Air Force: 20 battle; 6 non-battle
• Women killed, 15
• Wounded in action: 467.

 U.S. Commanders, U.S. Central Command, Operation Desert Storm

• Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, USA, commander in chief
• Lt. Gen. Calvin Waller, USA, deputy commander in chief
• Maj. Gen. Robert B. Johnston, USMC, chief of staff
• Lt. Gen. John J. Yeosock, USA, Army commander
• Lt. Gen. Walter Boomer, USMC, Marine commander
• Vice Adm. Stanley Arthur, USN, Navy commander
• Lt. Gen. Charles Horner, USAF, Air Force commander

 Food and Drug Administration issues the Interim Rule, "Informed Consent is Not Feasible" (FR 52814) 

• Vaccine Use During the Gulf War Information Paper
• RAND Report: Military Use of Drugs Not Yet Approved by the FDA for CW/BW Defense
• RAND Report: A Review of the Scientific Literature As It Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses,
  Volume 2: Pyridostigmine Bromide

Gulf War oil spill

The Gulf War oil spill is regarded as the worst oil spill in history, resulting from actions taken during the Gulf War in 1991 by the Iraq military.

On January 21, 1991, Iraqi forces opened valves at the Sea Island oil terminal and dumped oil from several tankers into the Persian Gulf. The apparent strategic goal was to foil a potential landing by U.S. Marines. The oil moved southward, ending up on the north coast of Saudi Arabia, endangering the fragile intertidal zones and mangrove forests and destroying wildlife habitats.

The immediate reports from Baghdad said that American air strikes had caused a discharge of oil from two tankers. Coalition forces determined the main source of oil to be the Sea Island terminal in Kuwait. American airstrikes on January 26 destroyed pipelines to prevent further spillage into the Persian Gulf. Several other sources of oil were found to be active: tankers and a damaged Kuwaiti oil refinery near Mina Al Ahmadi, tankers near Bubiyan Island, and Iraq's Mina Al Bakr terminal. 

Help for Veterans at Desert-Storm.com

 

Desert Storm Begins During News Broadcast 1/2

The first bombs begin to fall on Baghdad. Caught live

on ABCNightly News with Peter Jennings. As with all 

news casts of the event, no live video was 

available at that time. Date: 1/16/91.

 

Poison Something to believe in to all the troops

The Iraqi High Tribunal sentences

a combative Saddam Hussein and two

other defendants to death by hanging.